meaning ss chances of snow. i'll break down those chances coming up a little later on in my full forecast. and of course, as we move through the ight, you know it will be a cold night. 11:00. 28 degrees. 25 degrees by 5:00 a.m. by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, we're looking at another cold start around that 25-degree mark. we are here live in alexander re. a it is our holiday lights. this will be the last one that we do this winter and i have a beautiful house to sow you today. the lights here? go along with music. we'll talk about that. we've already gained a little crowd here. they're like let's see those lights. i'm kind of holding back until we come back to you guys in about ten minutes with more on that. >> all right. i can't wait to see them. >> there is a segment on this program where we show these stories and we say, say what? that's when a lot of redskins fans and others were doing when they got the news that donavan mcnabb has been benched for the rest of the year.

the number of fans and players alike are quite frustrated and been angry about that. lindsay czarniak is at the park. we're all saying, say what? what's going on? >> i was going to say if you think the redskins are azy for doing this, and doing it now before dallas week, especially with what they p donovan through, that's fair because i believe that the way the nature with which this went down is questionae. the thing is, the redskins have no doubt that this is the right thing that they should have done. donovan and rex grossman were told about this last night their fellow teammates were told about it today. mike shanahan was more open than i have ever seen him in explaining about how he made this decision. >> there is nothing he can do in the three games that would influence me of what he has done over the last 13 games.

and i said i was proud of him with that last drive, 75 yards with a touchdown. that would put us in position to win that. i said i have to do what i think is in the best interests of this organization. informs get a good feel of where we're at at the quarterback posion. i also said th i could not guarantee him that he would be back next year. he said i can't guarantee you that. what i canuarantee you, i'll be honest with you. i'll evaluate the situation. he said i'll not sure what we'll do in the college draft. if we're able to get the top quarterback in the draft. if there was a young donovan mcnabb. maybe a sam bradford. a lot of possibilities. but i'll evaluate that and be as hone as i possibly can. with him as time goes on. >> translation, donovan mcnabb is not the manhe redskins think should lead this team. >> let me ask you something. he said he wants to get a feel of what's the best thing with the quarterback position. did he say anythinghat he wants to get a feel of what

ight be a good idea with the offensive line to keep quarterbacks from getting killed back there and give him a half second to maybe find t receiver and find the ball? >> i was going to say we should be talking about the wide receivers. i think the bottom line is they've known here that they don't want to carry on with the quarterback they have currently starting. and i think that they're trying to buy time until they can. make a mov in the draft. this is all about that. it is all about the lockout. they know that there are so many pieces they have to improve upon this team and i think right now, dan snider is sitting back and letting mike shanahan do whatever he wants. they want to go to the playoffs within the next ten years. that's the bottom le. >> i think my question was way more editorial than it was inquisitive. i think you knew that. way to handle it. good to go. >> what do you think? do youagree? that he should have been benched? you can vote. nbcwashington.com. you can also leave your comments on facebook and on twitter.

here's a few of the comments posted so far. maybe not. you know, call us. we'll let you know andell us what you think. >> in other news, some amtrak passenger were late getting to their destinations after problems on the tracks. trak officials say some electrical wires fell on to the tracks near wilmington, delaware. that messed up the transit system's signals. two morning trims from d.c. to new york were canceled and some passengers were stuck on the train for hours. two afternoon trains have been canceled as a result o that. the trains run amtrak's northeast between d.c. and new york. the delays and cancellations caused more headaches for some riders than for others. >> got here early and the board said everything was on time. then they had an announcement that there was a del due tostrun obstruction. >> now we're going into sleep mode.

>> amtrak officials say if the line is not affected by this power line. metro transit officials have launch ad large scale anti-terrorism effort. starting immediately, they will be performing random bag inspections on all of their real stations. and at bus stopsoo. derrick ward is live outside the metro station where we understand passengers have given you mix reactions of these inspections. >> we have talked to passengers throughout the system. the thing is, metro isn't saying exactly when or where. after all, it random. it is not a response tony specific threat but they are saying that this is adding another level of security to the system. bags on any given day, just about everybody has one. of one kind or another. and now just about everybody who rides metro is subject to having their bags checked for explosives. >> this is an additional security measure that we are taking to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, employees, and the protection of

our properties. >> just today, a suspicious package report briefly closed the entrance to the l'enfant plaza station. the searches are initially what they call nonintrusive. a chemical swabbing to detect explosive materials. that would lead to a more thorough search if explosives are detected. >> if it is going to help to make thing secure, make it better for the public, i would s okay. >> those selected for the search could say no. but they would not be able to ride with the bag in question. a couple riders we talked to say they would not allow . >> i have no idea about anyone looking in my bag without at least having a search warrant and going through proper channels and whatever. no. i don't think i would like that at all. >> the metro's police chief said the process should be quick without much inconvenience. >> there will be slight

inconvenience. we're expecting anywhere from maybe 30 seconds to a minute. >> not good enough for at least one rider. >> what would be the probable cause to do the search? just because there might be a possibility of something in my bag? >> like it or not, this new level of sctiny is coming. >> it is possile that it could pop up at any metro facility. any bus stop throughout the national capital gion. >> metro says the way they're going to avoid any issues of profiling, dhoel a count of passengers past a certain point. it will be a number that was predetermined and that number would then be open to that scrutiny. it is all about if your number comes up. hey say this has worked in boston and new york and athletics it will work here. >> thank you. a soldier from northern virginia was killed thiseek in afghanistan. army specialist shawn died wednesday after insurgents attacked his unit. he grew up in manassas.

he grew up in the high school. his family told them that he and his wife wer expect go their first chi in april. the army specialist was only 22 years old. a judge in virginia declared christopher mentally compensate to stand trial today. he is charged with killing eight people back in january. in ju, he was sent to a state mental hospital. they say he was too mentally toil assist in his own defense. at a hearing today, the judge accepted the hospital's finding that he is now competent to stand trial. he was arrested 11 months ago after an overnight stand-off with police at the home thahe shared with his sister and his family. his alleged victims include his sister, brother-in-law, 15-year-old niece, and several neighbors. prosecutors say he also shot down the police helicopter. d.c. mayor elect vincent gray focused on the official who

oversee snow removal, parking ticket and trash renewal. >> reporter: these are the city agencies that touch thousands of citizens. but gray didn't make many big changes today. the historic snowfalls of last winter straine the budgets of every local government. as officials eyed the new winter season coming. >> as long ashey're not like last year, it will be fine. once everyone hundred years was just about right for me. >> reporter: bill first appointed in 2004 could smile fridayat the long time director of d.c.'s public works, was renominated by vincent gray who suffered through last year's snow too. >> 50, 60 inches of snow on the ground. we hope that won't happen again. one of the things we talked about is how we connection with other resources to be able to move snow. >> reporter: public works also responsible for parking ticke and trash pick-up.

he nominated the person to lead up the consume agency, that touches thousands of citizens and business who's seek a wide variety of permits. >> we would prefer the people not have to come to the agency. we prefer that they do a lot of the business online. >> he reninated other officials. the chief planning director to continue oversing development in the district. he said he hope to be finished by christmas. he still needs to name a scho's chancellor and he'll take over the government january 2. back to you. >> thank you. president obama has signed a tax cut compromise into law. the house gave final passage to that bill just before midnight last night. the framework for the compromise was negotiated by the president and top senate republicans. aspects of the deal sparked some

outrage. with the deadline looming, they got together to prevent a tax hike. "meet the press" moderator david gregory will join us in the next half-hour to talk more about that compromise. coming up, we may not have seen deep snow but that snow that did fall did cause some problems for drivers. and an emotional reunion between a haitian earthquake survivor and a local team. >> reporter what rights do you have as a consume when it come to the gift cards?

they wants to know how she can make her pine branches last through the holidays. >> it says you need to treat pine tree branchs as would you any other cut flower. that would be change the water

frequently, cut the stems and use flowerpreservatives to make them last longer. and one more tip. pine branches like to be kept in cool areas. always keep them out of direct sunlight but they should ke it through season. >> next question about those gift cards. what are some of the tip in buying them? >> you always want to buy your gift cards from known and trusted sources. avd those online auction sites as cards that are sold there may be counterfeit or they may be stolen. the ftc says be sureo read the fine print and check for any added fees and include, when you give it the original receipt with your giftcard, in case the card gets lost or stolen. that way the person could replace it. >> we know the rules have change. >> people would use them up

before they got them. what rights do consumers ha? >> it is much better now they helpedith us this question. new federal rules took effect in august that bring added protection to consumers when it come to giftcards. money on any retail or bank gift card can'txpire for at least five years after the card ws purchased. that's amazing. and inactivity fees can't be charged for at least a ye and then only once per month. noevery day. as a reminder, they said to remember to treat your gift card like cash. if your card gets lost or stole report it immediately to the issuer. some company will replace your card for a fee. if you have a question, send it in and you can ask questions on our new facebook page. just search the consur watch and you can use e-mail and

facebook. thanks. still ahead, the baby that just couldn't wait. rn right on the side of 270 before rescue workers could get to the scene. and one of the most notorious outlaws could get a pardon. i'll tell but all those things. but first doug is out in alexandria and will tell us more about our weather today. >> reporter: we've shown you the lights over the past two weeks, right? >> say it again. >> reporter: i said we have shown you some lights evidence to pt two week. >> some wonderful lights, as a matter of fact. >> reporter: wait until you see this house. take aook at this. this is just an amazing, amazing house. this is one of those streets. we want a house that stops traffic. that is this house. i'm with some of the neighbors that said, we saw you on tv and

we love this house. this is bill. first off, introduce your family to me. >> this is my wife and my daughter. >> this is such an amazing display. you put this to music. you have 12 song? >> 13 songs this year. >> and the lights go to the music. he puts it on 88.1 locally. >> 88.1 fm is my station. >> and it wasn't even bill or his family that had us come over here. it was a neighbor that said, you've got to go check out this house. it is amazing. and you guys need to sit here for -- for an hour. we don't have that much time. we'lcome back to you a little later on with a little more with a different song. the lights do something different in every so. let's first tell you, it is cold out here. it didn't bother this guy. look at him over here. >> he has shorts on.

you're not worried about the cold. >> no, not at all. >> let's tell you how many degrees you're talking about. currently at 38 degrees out at theairport. it is another cold night. now it's 36 degrees. the temperature is continuing to fall. the windchill around 33 degrees. as we move through the night, those temperatures willall even more. so anything that did melt during the day will quickly refreeze. 28 down toward manassas. la plata around 32 degrees. what will we see? not a lot going on oh our area. we're looking at partly cloudy skies to mostly clear skies. there is a developing storm system that will make its way along the coast. now this is the type of storm that could give us a lot of snow. as we've been talking about over the last couple days, i think this one will stay out to sea. most of the snow will go with it. parts of the region cou see some snowfall. the best chance for that would be well to the east. and i think the delmarva has the

best chance. maybe along the shore and our beaches. ocean city beach, not too bad considering the st couple days have been a high in the 20s. for tomorrow morning, partly cloudy. continued cold. a few slick spots. watch out for that. 15 to 25 degrees to start off. then during the day on saturday, increasing clouds continued cold with light wind at 34 to 36 degrees. as we move through the next four days, we'll still call it a 30% chance of some snow. again, i think most of it will stay to the east and most of us may see some sunshine through the west of the i-95. monday and tuesday, temperature around 35 degrees. with a little bit more in the way of snow as well. and the extended forecast showing temperatures below average right through the middle of next week. and bill has set the way. apparently people are calling him saying i saw you on tv. there he is. you can just wave to the people you're talking to. we'll be back.

you have to see this one song. we'l to have play that again coming up. >>quite remarkable. i can't wait. thanks. they say man proposes and god disposes. we'll show you evidence of that. it happened on i-270 this morning. a baby that could not wait on one of the most notorious outlaws on the wild west could get a pardon.

forty years ago, he wasn't worried about retirement. he'd et to hear of tual funds, iras, or annuities. back then, he had something more important to do. he wasn't focused on his future but rtunately, somebody else was. at usaa we provide retirement solutions for our military,

verans and their families. from investments... to life insurance.. to health careptions. learn more with our free usaa retirement guide. call 877-242-usaa. dan woolly was down in port-au-prince, haiti, when that massive earthquake hit in january. he was trapped in the rubble thawas the hotel montana. after 65 hours, finally, he was pulled out by some of the guys who were the fairfax county task forceful today he met with his rescuers face to face. he talk about his experience and

said he wre letters to his wife and two sons. he was afraid that he may not ever see them again alive. >> i thought this was the end. i really thought that this was, you know, that my life was probably over. i was trying to figure out what could do? if i had the chance toay last things to my family, what i would want to say? >> in the two weeks that they were in haiti, the fairax county rescue task force pulled 16 people from the rube down there. a woman gave birth to a baby girl in a mazda on the shoulder of 270. it happened about 7:00 this morning in rockville. crews were dispatched to i-270 near montrose ad for what was described as an ill then delivery. by the time they got there, the baby was born. a man in the vehicle had received birthing instructions from a 911 operator.

mo and baby were taken to the hospital. were told they're doing just fine. still to come, hardly any snow yesterday really at all. but it doesn't take much at all. a whole bunch of fender benders which meant a big day for body shops today. >> who says procrastination doesn't p off? some big bargains for last-minute shoppers. in northeast, post offices across the country flooded with letters to santa this holiday season.

a fast forrd through headlines. the washington redskins head coach mike shanahan has benched donovan mcnabb. today he announced rex grossman will start the final three games and mcnabb will be the third string quarterback the rest of the year. mcnabb's agent told espn the decisionis disrespectful. riders can expect random bag checks. it is a large anti-terrorism effort across the rail and bus stations. it is effective immediately. d.c. mayor elect vincent gray continues to fill out his cabinet. he appointed new or returning officials to agencies that

affect thousands of citizens and businesses. vincent gray takes over as mayor january 2. >> go back out to alexander. >> an amazing sight with all those lights. >> reporter: i tell you what, just amazing. we're listening to billy ray cyrus. this is what's happening to the lights behind me. an amazing speacle of lights. the. a lights, just amazing. i asked hill, how many lights do you put on? this is growing up my dad put on 75 lhts. how many do you do? how many was it? he said 265,000. and it is probably more next year. now we're - what are we in now, bill? this is midnight clear. he justave m the stars will descend and the lights will go on. i can't even tell you how great this is. we make our way through the rest

of the evening out there rght now. we're looking atemperature of 36 degrees in the district. 31 toward andrews air force bas quantico at 31 degrees. what are we dealing with tonight? temperatures into the teens in some locations. 18 in winchester. 19 in frederick. some areas around 15 to 20 degrees overnight around the frederickarea. so watch out there. high temperature, 35 in the district. 36 toward annapolis. the temperatures, closer to that 40-degree mark. maybe some sunshine early. we will see the clouds come into the picture during the afternoon tomorrow. we will see increasing clouds tomorrow as well we'll be back a little later on with some more of our hospital lights a little bit later. >> doug, thank you so much. those are some gogeous, gorgeous lights out there. >> rather spectacular. yesterday we saw our first significant snowfall of the season. while it didn't add up to much

snow on the ground, a lot of fender benders out there. some people still struggling. pat? >> reporter: a day lar, it is warmer. a day ler, it is a lot drier. but there's still some telltale evidence of trouble here. a day after the storm. >> reporter: after the storm, car casualty count. it was just a little snow. but at walker towing, it led to eight big jobs. glen royal. he gave us a tour of me of the casualties. this cab was your first tow yesterday? >> yes, sir. 6:30 yesterday morning at northbound 301. >> reporter: it doesn't look so bad in the front burk in the back -- take a lo at this. nothing but air. in theowing business, they have an expression for a two-car know. you call it -- >> a double banger.

>> reporter: yesterday you had this ultima and the pontiac. >> eastbound 50 at 495 with the beltway. a mess. a big ss. >> reporter: it is hard to believe the driver walked away from this one. this was a rollo. where did it happen? >> happened in marlboro. >> reporter: totaled? rolled right over. >> missed the roundabout too fast and right over the guardrail. walked away without a scratch. >> reporter: after the storm, ugly snow residue. it pretty wh it calms down. a day later, that snow that leaves some pretty ugly fingerprints. and you just can't stand to look at it. >> it looks awful after the snow. salt covered and stained. >> aolutely tears up my car. it makes he everything dirty ant brings the dirt and grime into

the car as well. >> it looks terrible. >> reporter: you should be embarrassed with this car. >> i am embarrassed. >> reporter: in maryland, when it comes toar washes, they don't monkey around. in, they don't monkey around. n crofton, they have this incredible see-throu car wash with blue and green washers and foam, all different colors of foam. it's like taking your car to one of those special loving spas. now you have to get it done. i don't know about you but there is something about a really neat car wash that stirs my soul. coming upat 6:00, after the storm, some snarky snow comments from the potus. >> from potus?

>> reporter: t president have to united states. a chicago guy -- he wants to prove he wa from chicago. said he was broad shouldered. president obama signed a massive tax package this afternoon. >> that's rig. david gregory is here to provide us some unsight. >> i can provide snow analysis as well. a guy from l.a., i can give you all that. >> we want to ask you, someone calling this a remarkable show of bipartisanship doufl agree with that? >> i think it is a show of bipartisanship. which relatively certainly is significant. and i think the president will pl it to say he gets something big. it can aect the economy. it can help him deal with the job situation. and maybe it is a down payment. doing sothing with republicans come next year. think a lot of americans will say that's a good start. >> what was the compromise involved? >> ultimately you get an extension of the bush tax cuts

for the wealthiest americans. president obama wrote that he found it morally troubling. that he was willing to make this deal nevertheless for the purpose of extending all the taxes. >> which leads me to suggest that while a lot of people might consider this bipartisanship, a lot of democrats kirt caving. >>aving and not willing to fight. you saw from the president, the vice president saying to the left, suck it up. we did the deal we had to do. we did what was possible. this is the art of the possible. i think that may be a new mantra for this president. >> on sunday you have vice president biden on. he said some things to say. >> he's made it more difficult for to us conduct our business with our allies and o frnds. for example, in my meetings, you know i media meet with most of these world leaders. there is a desire now to meet with me alone rather than have

aff in the room. it makes it more cumbersome. and sot is done damage. >> theice president is not known to bite his tongue on issues. >> this was interesting. a big debate about assange. is this akin to the pentagon papers? or is he a high-tech terrorist? what the vice president said in that interview, you'll see the entirety of it on sunday,he is a lot closer to a rrorist than he is somebody who, involved in the pentagon papers. a real debate. now an effort by the united states. by prosecutors to see whether he could b charged with the crime. >> he is your only guest, right? >> he is. we'll do our political around table. e'll have a good long time to talk to the vice president. >> that's it. as we noticed, "meet the press" on sunday. it airs here at 10:30 but you knew that right here on nbc 4. if you shop online today, chances are you can get your order mailed at no charge. the number of retailers taking

part in free shipping da has jumped to nearly 2,000. merchants include macy's and jc penand barnes and noble. ifou order it today it wld be guaranteed to be delivered by christmas eve. most of the offers end by midnight tonight. still to come, the community christmas tree that could be handle last year's snow. legen has it that billy the kid killed 21 men. now the governor o

all stories that make you say what? the coffin of lee harvey oswald brout in big buck. the wooden casket minus the body went for $87,000 last night. the coffin was put on the automatic block by the texas funeral homeowner who was in charge of exhuming oswald's body in 1981. he said the coffin got damaged so he reburied oswald in a new coffin. the bad boy of the wild west may get a pardon more than 100 years post mortem. historiansay that billy the kid was promise ad pardon in exchange for his testimony in a murder trial. . in governor bill richardson said on thursday, he was reviewing

the pardon prepared by governor lee wallace back in the 19th century. billy the kid is rumored to have killed 21 men. coming up, news4 at 5:00. a rite of passage for a lot of kids. writing a letter to santa. what some kids are writing for now is not something that you find in a norman rockwe kind of thing. we rewind to 1983. what a game that was. they went to dallas in fatigues. remember that? looking to clinch homefield advantage in the playoffs. that was a game. later tonight on news4 at 6:00. there may so proof that shows that legendary aviator amelia earhart may have been a castaway in a remote island in the south pacific before she died.

hello, i'm meteorologist doug kammerer. we're live in alexandria at a beautiful home at a spectacular

light displa my job, to create a good forecast you have to crunch a lot of number. i have numbers for you here. wll do a little math. you are responsible for all of this and you are telling me a few numbers. how many lights? >> 265,000. >> reporter: a lot of deer that i see jumping around. how many deer have you made? >> 88 deer. >> reporter: 88 deer. and a lot of power cords that goes into something like this. how many mile of power? >> just over seven miles. >> reporter: just over seven les of power. the line to see this house is also down the road a piece as well. a beautiful home. thank you for having us here. we're here for the next hour as well. the temperature the next couple days, you know they'll be on the cold side. you should drve by here. turn it to 88.1. you can drive by and turn on it 88.1. 36 degrees out there. 31 in clinton, maryland.

temperatures will stay below average. still about a 30% chance of snow on sunday. most of us will be dry on sunday. i'm not too worried about the orm. the delmarva has the best chance of seeing snow and then everybody has a chance of seeing snow coming up on tuesday. we'll be back at the 6:00 hour with more of our holiday lights. >> it is spectacular. thank you. we appreciate it. meanwhil millions of kids write to santaach holiday season, usually with dream of getting the latest gaming system or toy. >> those letters begin arrivin at the post office usually by as ar back as july. workers are finding that this year, the tone of the letters is quite a bit different. melissa has more. >> reporter: good evening. the postal service's operation santa program has been around for almost 100 years. this year, kids, even parents writing to st. nick. not asking for toys or computers but for thing many of us take for granted. >> i kno my mom can't buy me

stuff this christmas. we lost our house. then our apartment. my mom got sick. then she got laid off from her job. we need help. i'm writing this letter so i can hope that you will help me make my christmas with a lot of smile and joy. >> over there santa,ly chock full of dream and toys and goodies but the requests this year. >> clothes, jeans, skirts and bos. >> reporter: even food. more meaty than greety. the letters heart-wrenching. >> this is my seco time writing you. >> reporter: eles at the brentwood post office in northeast opening 500 letters from across the metro area. though they're expecting more, it is not the number. it is the need. >> they're asking for necessities. >> i have a box of issues right here. >> repoer: in tough economic time, parents pleading for help. >> you just hear the desperation in their voice. >> reporter: the national post

office sharing the wlerz, asking anyone who can to adopt a family and help with their wish list. with half the families adopted out,right now the post office is hoping for a christmas miracle. >> i would love for 200 people to come in and sponsor 200 more families or children. >> reporter: people like d.c. resident clarence henry. >> i was talking last night. he said all children deserve a gift at christmas. let them know they're being thought of so that was another motivation. >> reporter: now if you want to help, you will have to act fast. letter can be picked up at the brentwood office or the natnal capital post office on mass avenue on monday or tuesday next week. a lot more information about this on our website. nbcwashington.com. back to you. >> thanks. good stuff. all right. lindsay. shall we talk about dallas? what shall we talk about here. >> reporter: i want to talk about donavan mcnabb.

i think we have to bring dallas into the equation and here's the deal. mike shanahan wasasked by benching mcnabb and choosing to start grossman. he said rex grossman gives us a great shot at winning so he didn't exactly answer that question. their deal. any time they can beat dallas, it is a great day. one such day was back in 1983 when the redskins stormed texas who threatened t storm any cowboy who scored. >> december 11th, 1983. the fatigue game. the 13-2 redskins looking to secure home-field advantage arrived in dallas. almost all of them clad in camouflage. >> i think if they have some

self-expression, and certainly the address is part of it. i thought that was, that showed a little class. i'maving a designer fatigue made. mine is not ready yet. >> even more bizarre was the pregame interview. mr. cook still very angry about starting off the season with a loss to thecowboys. >> i've been waiting, waiting, nervously excitedly. but waiting patiently for tomorrow. and by golly we're going to reverse what they did to us in that opening game. they should never have won it and they won't win tomorrow. m thinking seriously of taking a double brrel shotgun into that visiting owner's box. if anybody and the cowboys looks like he will get dangerously close to scoring a touchdown or anybody going to kck a field goal, i think i'll shoot them. and i don't believe there is a jury anywhere in the east coast that will convict me. >>reporter: the extra fire

power was not necessary. the redskins unload early with both barrels. john reagan in for three yards out. then he finds open field. a 40-yard play th gave the skins a 14-point firstquarter lead. and that is all they would need. >> i had a hard time getting off the ball. i did get off. and i had the backer one-on-one. >> it seems like every time you get a touchdown pass, you're wide open. >> i didn't know who was close. en i got the ball, i didn't know who was behind. i just got out of there. that was a great feeling. >> reporter: the attack attitude was shared on defense. dave in the front line health the offense to one touchdown. >> in the past years, they've gone for blood. went for the kill. now it was a little different today. we had a chance to get up ahead. knew that they had to put

continuous pressure even up until the last month. >> that pressure cracked the ys from tom landry all the way on down. 2 a 43-yard, fourth quarter touchdown. dallas tried to deny the celebration. they couldn't do that he's. when tony dorsett did get involved, he could not mask his frustration. throwing the ball. >> the priorities were to stop the running game andhey stopped it cold. they put it othe back burner. but it is just one of those game. a game that we really couldn't get ouelves going. >> i love that. >> this is a great, great team. >> we're the better team. you know that. admit it. >> from now on the super bowl goes to shington. >> our people in d.c. they have to be lling, man.

this is for you. >> reporter: the redskins finished that regular season 14-2 but then won't to lose to the raider in the super bowl. can yo imagine dan snyder like that? >> talking about taking a shot and going to the cowboys. >> they're going to shoot. >> that was prepolitical correctness stage. you just said what you felt. will we ever get back to that excitele? >> great looking back. >> when we could really say what we were thinking. >> coming up tonight, trees took a beating under the pressure of the snow and all that ice last winter. remember that? >> yeh. and now one community's christmas tree looks like something from

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christmas won't be the same for an entire communicate in maryland. for nearly 50 years, one tree in old town laurel has dfined christmas for people who live there. it survived the comings and goings of generation after generation. this christmas, that tree will not shine. but that doesn't mean it won't live on. aan gilchrist has our story. >> reporter: it is the symbol that gives us the feeling of christmas. this 70 foot tall pine is part

of this community's heart and soul. you see since the 1960s, the big christmas tree as it is called was lit in early december if you lived in laurel, you knew it. >> it i so big and it sat on the hill. th's what made it spectacular. danny has loved it since he was a child. >> people came from miles around. it was nothing to see cars stopped and people taking pictures. it was just spectacular. it was bigger and prettier handle the the one down on the mall. >> reporter: the family made the painful decision to stop the tradition today. several years ago, someone set fire to it and this past winter, relentlesssnow did even more damage. >> it was maybe in may when they trimmed it up, got rid of the broken limbs, took a look at it and it he knew then it would ha to come down. >> reporter: the 12,000 lights normally on the tree didn't go up this christmas. when word got out, the community was heart broken. a facebook page popped up and so far has nearly 5,000 fans.

people all over the country sharing their memories and photos from visiting the tree in years past. and their sadness that it is going away. >> it has been very overwhelming that so many people were touched by this tree like we were. >> reporte the b krums tree's money lives on. the historical society's holiday ornament, not a building. >> everyone remember going to that tree with their family, their parents. it is such a personal memory that they want to capture it. >> reporter: the ornament now hangs on the tree. a lone reminder of a family and a community's christmas past. aaron gilchrist, laurel. >> that's news4 at 5:00. ne4 at 6:00 starts right now.